Tilting latch face



April 18, 1961 F. J. RUSSELL ETAL 2,980,463

TILTING LATCH FACE Filed April 13, 1959' FIG. I

FRED J. RUSSELL FRANZ J NETSCHERT INVENTORS.

I5 FIG- 2 6 a A TTORNEYS.

United States Calif., and Franz J. Netschert, Glendale, Califi; said Netschert assignor to said Russell Filed Apr. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 305,946

3 Claims. (Cl. 292-337) The invention relates to door locks and has particular reference to the part identified as a latch bolt casing containing a reciprocating latch bolt to which a latch face is attached.

It is commonly understood and appreciated that when latch bolts are mounted in a door from the edge, the mounting must be dressed or finished to present a neat appearance by use of one or more plate structures inset into the edge of the door so that the plate is flush and only the latch bolt protrudes.

One common problem which is always present arises from the fact that some doors are beveled at the edge where the latch bolt is inserted. This is particularly true for relatively thick doors in that unless the edge is beveled, considerable clearance must be provided between the edge and the adjacent frame in order to permit the door to swing freely into closed position in the frame. Obviously, the thicker the door, the greater will be the need for a bevel at the edge. Consequently, the latch face plate under thicker door circumstances will need to be tilted to a considerable extent if the latch bolt is to be mounted so as to reciprocate in a position parallel to the face of the door. If an attempt should be made to tilt the axis of the latch bolt to help align the latch face plate, the mechanical connection between the latchbolt and the latch mechanism might not operate properly.

Although sundry expedients have been employed heretofore to permit the latch face plate to be tilted with respect to the axis of reciprocation of the latch bolt, prior devices have had certain objectionable characteristics in that insufficient tilt has been provided or on occasions a flimsy loose construction has been resorted to which has made the resulting installation unsatisfactory.

It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a v new and improved tilting latch face plate which is permanently affixed to the latch bolt casing in subassembled relationship and which has an ample degree of tilt to accommodate virtually all degrees of bevel in conventional doors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved tilting latch face plate wherein the face plate structure is a composite structure in which a tilting mechanism is self-contained.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved latch face plate structure which is compact in its arrangement and simple with respect to the relationship of the tilting parts and which is of such character that installation in a proper manner is greatly facilitated.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through the tilting structure of a latch face in an installation where the latch bolt casing is mounted upon a door having a beveled edge.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the same tilting latch face construction wherein the latch bolt casing is mounted upon a door having an unbeveled edge.

Figure 3 is an exploded view showing the various parts of the latch face construction and accompanying latch bolt and casing.

in an embodiment of the invention cho'sen for the purpose of illustration there is shown a door frame 10 in which a door 11 is mounted in conventional fashion, the door being shown in closed position. It will be noted further that the frame is provided with a strike plate 12 and a box 13 having a bolt aperture 14 therein for reception of a reciprocating latch bolt 15. These portions of the installation are conventional.

The door 11 is a relatively thick door and consequently is provided with a bevel on the edge 16 which faces a face 17 of the frame.

The latch bolt unit, as best seen in Figure 3, consists of a casing 18 having a cylindrical bore 19 extending therethrough for reception of the latch bolt 15. The latch bolt is a somewhat composite structure including a tail piece 29 which extends entirely through the casing around which is positioned a coiled spring 21. To hold the spring in proper operating position there is provided a rear spring seat or keeper 22 having a slot 23 therein by means of which it can be applied over the tail piece 2i). The keeper is adapted to rest against a bottom (not shown) in the casing 18, thereby to provide a stop or shoulder against which the spring 10 presses.

A second spring seat or keeper 24 provided with a slot 25 fits over the opposite end of the tail piece and moreover is contained within a recess 26 in the latch bolt 15. The keeper 24 accordingly retains the opposite end of the spring 21.

Those portions of the device which are applied to the edge of the door comprise a face plate 28 and a back plate 29 which are secured together by conventional means (not shown) such as wood screws extending respectively through holes 30 and 31. The face plate is provided with a latch bolt aperture 32 through which the latch bolt 15 is adapted to pass and a shoulder 33 on the tail piece limits outward motion of the latch bolt.

The back plate 29 has side walls 34 and end walls 35 which form a pocket 36 between the back plate and the face plate. On the casing 18 is a substantially annular flange 37 having flat sides 38 to enable the flange to fit between the side walls 34, thereby to prevent the latch casing from rotating relative to the back plate 29. :Attention is further directed to the fact that the flange 37 is tilted slightly with respect to the axis of the casing 18, the tilt being at the rate of about A of an inch per inch to accomplish the result desired- The tilted relationship is more readily apparent inFigure 2. -By giving the flange a tilt in the direction shown there will be possible a tilt of /3 per inch of the face plate relative to the axis of the latch bolt when in sub-assembled position.

When the face plate and back plate are secured together, the flange 37 is contained between them. To provide fulcrums for the tilting of the plates relative to the flange and the casing 18, the back plate 29 is provided with a projection 40 on each side in diametrically opposite positions. These projections are adapted to be received within complementary recesses 41 so as to position the flange with respect to the back plate. To further assist in this positioning and to provide a proper tilting fulcrum, the flange is provided with a projection 42 on each diametrically opposite side immediately adjacent the respective recess 4-1. The projection 42 is adapted to bear against a rear face 43 of the face plate 28.

When the device is to be assembledin the edge 16 of a door 11, an appropriate cutout 44 corresponding in length, breadth and depthto; the combined faceplate" and back plate is formed at the outermost end of a hole 45;

The assembly is then pressed into position-andheld there by "the screws previously made reference to.; When the,

edge 16 is beveled, as'illustrated in Figure 1, the face plate and back plate will be tilted, to conform with the slope of the bevel, this ,tilt 'being permitted by the depth of the pocket 36, wherein the tilting motion of the plates with respect to theflange is facilitated by the presence of the projections 40 and 42 previously described.

On those occasions where a thinner door 46 is encountered, having'an. edge47 which is not beveled," the device may be mounted in much the same fashion as was described in connection With the door 11., That is to say, a"

recess 48 is provided at the outer end of a hole 49 which receives the device in a manner such that the face plate 28 is flush with the edge, 47. a

, Inasmuch as the edge 47 is at right angles'to the axis of the hole 49 and to the opposite faces of the door 46, the face plate and back platewill still be permitted to tilt to the assembled positions illustrated in Figure 2. This de gree of tilt is permitted by the depth of the pocket 36 and the employment of the'rprojections 4t) and 42 as fulcrums. It'will be readily apparent, therefore;that the tilting latch face structure herein described in'detail is adapted with equal facility forattachrnent todoors having an edge 16 Y which is beveled and doors having .an edge 47 which is unbeveled. There is suflicient permitted tilt of the plates relative to the'flange 37 to, allow suflicient tilt to accommodate all expected types of installations.

, Due to engagement of projections with the recesses on 7 both sides of the flange, the flange at itscenter point has a substantially fixed position between the plates so that tiltingltakes place about the projections as a fulcrum.

'said flange means'an'cl a second projection means between said flange means and saidjface' plate member, said projection means'forming engagements between saidplate members and said flange means and also serving as :fulcrurn points which enablesaid flange means to rock whereby to'tenabl'e said platemembers to assume an angle agreeing with the beveled edge of the door. 7

2. In a latch mechanism for attachment to thebevel edge of a door a latch'bolt assembly comprising a casing having a bore therethrough for reception of a reciprocatably movable latch bolt, "a flangemeans at the o'uter end of said casing-on diametrically opposite sides; and extending at right angles to the exterior'of the casing, a backup plate member on one side of the flange means and a faceplate member on, the other side, of said flange means,

1 spacing means separating said plate members a uniform distance apart throughout the perimeter of the flange means-in excess of'the thickness of said flange means, projections separating diametrically opposite, upper andlower sides of said flange means fromsaid plate members whereby to provide a tilting engagement between said face members and said flange means enabling said plate members to tilt relati've to the axis of said casing and lie flat on the bevel edge of the door without misalignment of thecasing. 3. .In a latch mechanism; for'attachment to the edge of a door wherein a bevel may beformed a latch bolt assembly comprising a casing having a bore therethrough for reception ofa reciprocatably movable latch bolt, a substantially annular flange member .at the outer end of said casing extending at right angles to the exterior of It will be clear from the foregoing description'that a very simple'type of tilting face structure is provided which permitsof a firm retention of the latch bolt casing and operating parts by the plates but which accord the plates a sufiicient freedom of motion to permitautomatic adjustment to the bevel of the door edge while at the same time facilitating a dependable and positive installation.v

While we have herein shown and described our invention in what we have conceived to be the most practical and, preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of our invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to 'be accorded thefull scope of the; claims soas to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a latch mechanism for attachment to adoor a latch bolttassembly comprising a casing having the edge of t the casing, a back-up" plate member on one side of the flange member-and a faceplate member on the other side of said annular flangejrnember, spacingmean's'sepw rating 'said plate members a distance apart in-excess of the thickness of said annular flange member, said annular flange member'having' a projection on diametrically movable latch bolt, a flange means, at' the outer end of 7 7 said casing on diametrically opposite sides and extending a bore therethrough for reception of a reciprocatably opposite upper andlower sides thereof in tilting engage- 'ment with an adjacent face of one of saidplate members and having a recess on the side of said annular flange member' opposite each said projection, the other plate member having a projection on diametrically opposite sides in tiltable engagement with the respectively adjacent recess whereby to enable said plate members to assume an angle relative to the axis'of said casing in a position flat on the edge of the door without misalignment of the casing.

References Cited in'the fileof this patent UNITED STATES' PATENTS 2,655,030 Schlage ..-O.ct. 13, 1953 

